Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-10-19
Business Methods in Farming,

But he shall walk with Me, his God.
-[Jones Very.
Business Methods in Farming.
When one, used to affairs and bust
ness methods, takes q look at our
average farming methods, he simply
wonders how such want of common
business principles can be consistent
with any result but the baldest failure;
and when he looks further into
it. and finds that farming gains, al
though very slowly, and is, on the
average, more sure of ultimate success
the mercantile, mechanical, or man.
ufacturing business, he thence con-
cludes that the various branches of
farming pay better percentage than
other business, since other business
could not survive such want of good
management.
Let us make g. few points. The
farmer keeps team q year for three
months effective work; this, on q
small farm, amounts to g. waste of
25 per cent. of it's gain; ne often takes
four years to grow his animals when
half of the food would produce a bet
ter growth in two years; he wastes the
most valuable part Of the manure
from his animals by throwing it out
under the caves Of the barn, and al
lowing it to wash into the nearest
stream, then purchases fertilizers to
make up this loss; keeps his stock in
cold stables orin the open air, and
employs the principal part of the food
given in winter to keep them warm
without growth; for want of thorough
working of the soil often harvests
half q crop, barely getting pay for Ia
Dor, and nothing for the land; allows
his dairy COWS to become poor during
the winter, so thin that when they
drop their calves they must recruit
their own bodies before they can prof
itably yield milk, thus largely cutting
Off the season; dry off COWS at about
eight months instead OF ten, again re-
ducing the profits; instead of casting
his necessities in the near future, and
providing for them at the lowest
rates in advance, he waits until the
need is upon him, and he must then
purchase on high market, losing two
years interest by the neglect-this ap-
plies to the purchase Of feed by 81 large
class of dairymen almost every year;
employ their laborers for all weather
and then neglect to provide work for
them under shelter on inclement days,
although much such work needs to be
done, but is left until necessity COM
pels it to be done in good weather; al
lows his tools and machines to rot
out for want of care faster than they
wear out. This is but a meagre bill of
particulars compared to what might
be given; but who will say that farm
ing is not profitable, when success is
possible with all theseleaks unstopped?
Is it not high time that the farmer
had adopted economical business
methods, instead of this remarkable
want of all method? The farmers
final success must be largely credited
to his mastery economy IN the ex.
penditure of money received for crops.
After farm products are reduced 30
cash, this becomes sacred property
and must not be parted with, except
for the most urgent reason. We have
seen how negligent and uneconomical
tLey are concerning their products be-
fore being converted into money.
Now il we could suppose farmers to
bestow the same thoughtful care in
the management of all their opera
lions that they do to the expenditure
of money, what g. radical revolution
would come over the whole business
of agriculture at once? There would
be no further complaint that farming
does not pay. But, alas we cannot
suppose any such radical change.
These improvements can only come
from the slow education OF the farm
er. He belongs to the most conser-
vative class in the state. But it is
none the less the duty Of the journal
ist to call frequent attention to these
needed improvements, and by reitera-
ton to wake up the mind which must
be impressed before any action is ia.
ken.
The most favorable Indication of
the more rapid improvements in ag-
ricultural operations, is the fact of
the great increase in the readers OF
the agricultural press. When the
mass of farmers begin to read papers
devoted to their speciality they show
willingness to know which is the
important fact that must precede
i'm provement.- Practical Farmer.
A Kitchen Garden.
Judge Buell. once said that if we'll
kept kitchen garden is not an infal-
liable proof OF thrift, when seen near
farmhouse, it is a pretty certain in
dication of comfort and good sense.
1t shows that the owner is we'll to
live, and intends to live well, SO far
as his labor and his lands can con-
duce to good living. For it will not be
denied that the farm and the garden
may be made to produce, not only
the substantials, but O. great many OF
the luxuries of life-I mean those lux
uries which, while they are grateful to
the senses, neither pail the appetite,
vitiate the taste, impair the health
nor corrupt the morals Of those who
partake of them. Some consider the
productions OF garden as constitute.
Ing a necessary part of human food.
So the man of the forest will tell us
that bread is an unnecessary article of
food, the Abyssinian that it is unneces-